Boyd's Speedway
McDowell rules Boyd's for third straight win
By Richard Allen
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Dale McDowell claimed a $3,000 victory at Boyd's Speedway. (photobyconnie.com)
RINGGOLD, Ga. (April 6) – Dale McDowell continued his early-season onslaught on the Southeast region Friday night at Boyd's Speedway, picking up a $3,000 unsanctioned victory at the third-mile racetrack.
Starting from the third position, McDowell of nearby Rossville, Ga., outdueled second-starting Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., on the start of the 40-lapper and took the lead from polesitter Mike Weeks of Friendsville, Tenn., following a lap-five restart. McDowell pulled away from the field through the remaining distance and survived a few closes calls with lapped traffic to earn his third victory of the season. | Slideshow | Video
Owens also moved by Weeks on lap eight, but fifth-starting Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., used a strong move on the high side to take second from Owens with 14 laps remaining.
Weaver’s late rally wasn’t enough to catch McDowell as he settled for the runner-up finish with Owens finishing third. Ronnie Johnson of Chattanoga, Tenn., started and finished fourth while Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., rounded out the top five after starting mid-pack.
Cars ran the low line on both ends of the track throughout the early stages of the race until a rut began to develop in turn two. Weaver began working the high line just after the halfway point in an attempt to get around Owens. The high groove finally payed off as Weaver worked his way into the runner-up spot on lap 26.
Other drivers followed suit by moving up the track but there was to be no catching McDowell, whose biggest challenge was avoiding the slower car of Brian Jackson win he spun as McDowell was attempting to put him a lap down.
Notes: McDowell’s Team Dillon Warrior Race Car is powered by an Earnhardt Childress Racing Engine with sponsorship from Big Dog Motorsports, Ferris Commercial Mowers, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, YouAreHollywood.com, Cometic Gasket, Xinergy and WTW Enterprises. … The race was slowed four times by cautions. … The victory is McDowell’s third in a row. He won the previous week in an Ultimate Super Late Model Series race at North Georiga Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga., after earning a $10,000 payday the week before that at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. … Saturday’s race was scheduled earlier in the week after two special events at Boyd’s were rained out earlier I in the season.
